Demountable partition



June 15, 1965 R. H. SLOWINSKI DEMOUNIABLE PARTITION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 11, 1956 INVENTOR.

BY Robert H. Slowinski ATTORN EY June 15, 1965 R. H. SLOWINSKI 3,139,135

DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION Filed May 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Robert H. Slowinski wm w ATTORNEY June 1965 R. H. SLOWINSKI 3,189,

DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION Filed May 11, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ihiv ,INVENTOR. 59 59 Robert H. Slowinski ATTORNEY binations.

United States Patent 3,189,135 DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION Robert H.Slowinski, Tonawanda, N.Y., assignor to National Gypsum Company,Buifalo, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 11, 1959, Sen. No.584,307

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates to a demountablepartition system and to the elements thereof and their com- With thepresent increased trend toward construction systems with greatervariability of application and layout in oifice and industrialbuildings, as well as toward low cost variable-type modernizationsystems for older industrial buildings, there has grown a considerableneed for complete simplification in the manufacture and erection ofdemountable partitions.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a greatlysimplified, easily erected, improved demountable partition. Further, it.is an object of the invention to provide an improved demountablepartition runner for receiving the top and/or the bottom edges ofdemountable partition panels. Briefly, this is accomplished by providingchannel runners having disposed therein resilient spring members capableof being compressed for insertion of partition panels and capable aftercompletion of erection of resiliently but permanently retaining theinserted panels in their desired normal erected position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a demountablepartition having improved resistance to sound transmission.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a simplified,low cost, demountable partition of relatively few basic parts capable ofrapid fabrication into a partition of high qualityand permanentappearance.

An even further object of the invention is the provision of an improveddemount able partition system readily adaptable for use in eitherceiling height or partial room height partitions.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear morefully when considered in connec tion with the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention and theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partially constructed partition systembuilt in accordance with and embodying the invention, portions beingbroken away. FIG. 2 is an end sectional view of the bottom portion ofthe partition of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the portion of said partition takenon line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end View of the top channel of the partition of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ceiling channel .clip of FIG. 4.

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. FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a fied base channel.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a modified wire spring fo use in the basechannel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the spring of FIG. 12.

. FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are sectional views of a vertical jointbetween panels showing modifications of means for joining panel verticaledges.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a partition 20 is shown partially erected whichis constructed in accordance with the invention. Partition 20-includeselongate bottom channels 21-A and top channels 21-B, partition panels23, and vertical joint strips 24.

Bottom channels 21-A, FIGS. 2 and 3, are elongate members, whichsectionally include essentially a bottom 26, having suitable means forattachment by bolts 27 to a floor 28, and having upwardly extendingsides 29, which, in a finished partition, provide the usual wallbaseboard strips. Sides 29 have at the upper edges an inwardly andthence downwardly directed panel-engaging lip as.

Disposed un-attachedly within bottom channels 21 A are bow springs 31.Bow springs 31 are preferably of a leaf-type, formed of bowed resilientspring sheet steel, having a width sufiicient to provide lateralstability both when laid freely into the channel and when downwardlyfurther modidepressed, vertically supporting a panel 23. The width ofbow springs 31 is preferably substantially equal to the thickness ofpanels 23; and the length of bow springs 31, when depressed, issubstantially greater than the panel thickness but no greater than thepanel width. Bow springs 31 have outwardly turned, opposed ends 32resting on channel bottom 26 and a raised arcu'ate body 33 therebetween.Body 33 is resiliently depressed upon the insertion into the channel ofa panel bottom edge .34.

Top channels 21-13, FIG. 4-, include a top face 36, downwardly extendingsides 37,, and inwardly and thence upwardly directed panel-engaging lips38, a structure formed generally similar to base channel's ill-A, butreversely positioned and somewhat less tall. In the top channel 21B,lips 38 function to retain M-clips 39, seen clearly in FIG. 5, which areinserted at spaced positions therealong. The M-clips 39 are ofgenerallyM-shaped with side legs positioned against the sides 37 to center theclip over the panels .23 and a generally U-shaped center portion tospace the panel top downwardly from the ceiling. The use of M-cli=ps 39in a ceiling height partition will 'be seen to maintain a panel 23compressively against ibow springs 31 with a panel height short enoughfor insertion into bottom channel 21-A from a substantially verticalposition.

Top channels '21-'13 may alternatively be attached to a ceiling toprovide a ceiling-height partition or may-be spaced from the ceiling andheld parallel to and fixedly spaced from bottom channel 21-A by verticaljoint straps 4'0, FIG, 6. Vertical joint straps 40,'having a lengthslightly less than the height of partition desired, include widened endportions 41 at each end. Straps 40 extend between bottom channel 21A andtop channel 21 B with widened end portions 41 lockingly engaged belowlips 30 at the bottom and above lips 38 at the top. One strap 40 ispreferably disposed at alternatejoints of adjacent panels 23 inpartition 20, to restrain the upward urging of panel 23 and top channel21-B caused by bow spring 31. A modified means for this restraint isshown in FIG. 7, wherein a widened-end plate 42 is afiixed, as by bolts,to the bottom of joint strip 24 and lockingly engaged below lips 30. Asimilar plate 42 is similarly affixed and locked at the top (not shown)'In a full ceiling height dernountable partition, built in accordancewith the invention, the top channel 21-B is'aflixed to a ceiling in anysuitable manner, such as the 6 bolts 27 used in bottom channel 21-A. Thefixed relative position of bottom and top channels would, thus,eliminate the need for straps in the ceiling height partition. 7

To provide an unbroken or continuous partition, means for joiningadjacent vertical edges of panels 23 are necessary. In one form of theinvention channels -A and 50 B, formed identical to channels 21-A and21-B, may be combined .to form corner joints 51, FIG. 8, or either 50-Aor 50-13 may be joined back to back for use at mid-partition verticaljoints replacing joint strip 24, FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9 and 10 shOW, sectionally, modified elongate bottom channel 52and top channel 53, respectively, suitable for use in place of bottomand top channels 21-A and 21-8 in accordance with the invention. Bottomchannel 52 includes inwardly and downwardly acutely bent flanges 54.Flanges 54 are formed to receive and grasp the bottom edge of panels 23and also, in a less than ceiling height partition, lockingly engage thestraps 40 or plate 42. Top channel 53 includes downwardly extendingsides 55, upwardly extending inner sides 56 which extend upwardly fromthe bottom of sides to approximately the mid-point of sides 55.False-top flanges 57 extend inwardly from the upper extents of innersides 56. False-top flanges 57 perform the function of M-clips 39 ofFIG. 4, without the need for a separate clip element insertion, andproviding a somewhat more stable false top. False-top flanges 57 furtherprovide means for lockingly engaging the upper extent of strap 40 orplate 42.

FIG. 11 shows a further modified base channel 66 having top lips 67folded tightly inward providing a narrower over-all channel for wheresuch is desired.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a top and side view of a modified bow spring 58,formed of relatively heavy resilient wire. Wire bow spring 58 includeslaterally extending end-wings 59 for lateral stability of the spring 58when positioned in any of the bottom channels 21-A, 52 or 66 of FIGS. 2,9 and 11, in place of how spring 31. Wire bow spring 58 further includesa centrally disposed, 'laterally extending reverse wing 60 for acomplete and stable engagement with a panel bottom edge 34.

FIG. 14 shows a preferred form of simplified, elongate vertical jointstrip 24 having a center face 61, first channelforming walls 62extending perpendicular to face 61, and second channel-f-orrning walls63 extending reversely a distance greater than wall 62. Thus, walls 62and 63 form opposed channels for the reception therein of vertical edgesof adjacent panels 23. FIG. 14 includes also a strap 40, to show themanner in which strap 49 is disposed relative to any of the channeledvertical joint strips disclosed herein. Strap 40 is disposed withineither of the opposed channels of a joint strip inward of the verticaledge of the panel 23, thus being hidden in the finallessthan-ceiling-height partition when completed.

Vertical joint strips 70, FIG. 15, include a male facing strip 71 havingan uninterrupted outer face 72 and an inwardly directed center flange 73extending therefrom. Flange 73 has a bent edge 74 along the edge. Stripsfurther include a female facing strip 75 with an uninterrupted outerface 76 and acutely inwardly directed wing flanges 77 extending fromeach edge thereof. Wing flanges 77 have endward arcuate portions whichin a pair of flanges form an outwardly opening tube 7 3 for the lockingreception of bent edge 74 of the male facing strip 71.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show vertical joint strips 80 and 90, respectively, eachof which is comprised of tWo separate facing strips joined duringconstruction by fastening means.

Strip 80, FIG. 16, includes a male facing strip 81 having an outer face82 and screw-like fastening projections 83 extending between panels 23at spaced positions along the extent of strip 81. A female facing strip84 includes an uninterrupted outer face 85 and an inwardly directed 4flanged groove 86. Projections 83 include a plurality of threads 87which engage and lock with flanged groove 86 when fitted together asshown in FIG. 16.

Strips 90, FIG. 17, include a male facing strip 91 having an outer face92 and threaded bolts 93 extending rotatably therethrough at spacedpositions along the extent of strip 91. A female facing strip 94includes an uninterrupted outer face 95 and an inwardly directedelongate groove 96. The sides of groove 96 include a plurality ofelongate ribs 97 capable of engaging and holding the threads of bolts 93when tightened therebetween.

'FIG. 18 shows a simplified junction 100 between panels, wherein thepanels are kerfed 101 centrally along the vertical edges. An elongateflat metal strip 102, su stantially equal in width to the combineddepths of th adjacent kcrfs 101, is disposed in two adjacent kerfs,providing the continuity between separate panels of a unitary partition.With the junction being an exposed joint, it is preferred to formbevelled edges 103 along each edge to minimize slight imperfections inalignment.

The construction of the ceiling height demountable partitions, embodyingthe present invention, consists of aflixing bottom channel 21-A and topchannel 21-B to a floor and ceiling along the disposition desired forthe partition. At least one end of a demountable partition willordinarily abut a permanent wall, whereat the channels 21-A and 21-Bwill also be disposed abutting the permanent wall. Demountable partitioncorners may be formed by abutting the end of one partition sectionagainst the side of a second partition section and .aflixing togetherthe vertical edge joint channels 50A and Sti-B as shown in FIG. 8.

With channels 21-A and 2143 fixedly disposed, springs 31 and panels 23may be very rapidly inserted. A spring 31 is placed within bottomchannel 21-A generally centrally of the position into which a panel 23is to be placed. The panel '23 is =lifted upright and the bottom edge 34is generally centered on spring 31. The panel is forced downward intochannel :21-A, depressing spring 31 a suflicient distance to permit thepositioning of the upper edge of panel 23 in upper channel 21-B,whereupon the downward force is released the spring 31 returns partiallytoward a normal undepressed shape, the spring return being sufiicientto-move panel 23 upward into contact with M-clips 39, of FIG. 4, butinsuflicient to relieve the total compression of spring 31. Spring 31,thus, maintains a resilient but firm positioning of panel 23 between thechannels Zl-A and 21-13.

Any one of the vertical joint strips of FIGS. 8, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18may be employed in the demountable partition, strip 24 of FIG. 14 beingtaken for example. In the ceiling height partition, strap 40 is notrequired. Strips 24-, of a length equal to the distance between mountedchannels 21-A and 21-13 are slidably and resiliently placed on each edgeof mounted panel 23. Along exposed edges of end panels, a channel Sit-Aor Sd-B is preferred to provide a finished edge.

Subsequent progressively adjacent panels 23, with respective springs 31,are mounted in channels :21-A similar to the above method, as closelyadjacent the prior mounted panel as possible and are then slidlengthwise of the channels 21-A and 21-B to engage in the strip 2 alongthe adjacent vertical edge. Another strip 24 is then mounted on theopposite vertical edge.

=Less-than-ceiling-height partitions will be constructed generallysimilarly, aflixing the base channel 21-A to the floor and retaining thevertical spacing between bottom and top channels by means of straps 40between alternate panels, It will be apparent that for lateralstability, lessthan-ceiling-height partitions will require either beingaffixed to a permanent wall at the end of a section of demountablepartition, or, alternatively, the presence In the partition of a corner,constructed generally in accordance with :FIG 8.

T he panels 23 may be constructed of any suitable partition constructionmaterial, of -a requisite impact strength or sound transmissioncharacter. In the preferred form, as shown in FIG. '2, a core 110 is ofrelatively lightweight, low density fiber board having laminated on eachface thereof a thin cover ply 111 of a denser and harder sheet material,such as asbestos-cernent sheet. A panel '23, so constructed provides alight, but strong, panel easily handled and erected, having a hard wallsurface, resistance to sound transmission and strong enough to berepeatedly mounted and demounted in accordance with the invention.

Having completed a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments ofmy invention so that those skilled in the art may practice the same, Icontemplate that variations may 'be made without departing from theessence of, the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

:1. -A demountable partition comprising an upwardly opening bottomchannel affixed to a floor, a downwardly opening top channel aflixed toa ceiling parallel to and above said bottom channel, a resilient,vertically compressed spring disposed within said bottom channel, apartition panel having a bottom edge disposed within said bottom channelabove said spring and having a top edge disposed within said topchannel, said compressed spring constantly urging said panel upwards,said spring and said panel being vertically restrained by saidrelatively fixedly spaced top channel, said top channel including anuppermost horizontal top face adjacent said ceiling, sides extendingdownwardly from the lateral edges of said top face, and inwardlydirected lips :at the bottom edges of said sides, said top channel-shaving disposed therein at spaced positions self-retained spacing clips,said spacing clips being generally M-shaped, including two oppositelyoutwardly and downwardly directed arms for centering said clip in saidtop channel, and a central lower face fior abutting the panel top edgeand holding said panel spaced downwardly from said top iface.

2. A demountable partition comprising an upwardly opening bottom channelafiixed to a floor, a downwardly opening top channel aifixed thereo verto a ceiling, a plurality of partition panels extending between saidchannel-s, said panels having respective edges disposed within saidchannels, a resilient, leaf-type bow spring downwardly depressed beneatheach said panel and within said bottom channel and resiliently urgingsaid panel upward, said top channel having inwardly extending lips atthe lower extremities of each side wall thereof, said top channel havingdisposed therein a plurality of generally M-shaped clips with side legsdisposed against the channel sidewalls centering said clip over saidpanels, the central U- por-ti-on of said clip holding said panels spacedfrom the channel top, whereby the panel was originally mountable from asubstantially vertical position and is resiliently held in' spacedrelation from the floor and ceiling, said panels being joined atvertical adjacent edges with means for making the partition continuous.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,208 7/23Mayo -12 Q,481,794 9/49 Stitt 50-396 2,808,136 10/57 Hamrnitt et a1.189-34 FOREIGN PATENTS 709,239 5/54 Great Britain.

RICHARD W. COOKE, 111., Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACKENOF'F,

Examiners.

1. A DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION COMPRISING AN UPWARDLY OPENING BOTTOM CHANNELAFFIXED TO A FLOOR, A DOWNWARDLY OPENING TOP CHANNEL AFFIXED TO ACEILING PARALLEL TO AND ABOVE SAID BOTTOM CHANNEL, A RESILIENT,VERTICALLY COMPRESSED SPRING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BOTTOM CHANNEL, APARTITION PANEL HAVING A BOTTOM EDGE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BOTTOM CHANNELABOVE SAID SPRING AND HAVING A TOP EDGE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TOPCHANNEL, SAID COMPRESSED SPRING CONSTANTLY URGING SAID PANEL UPWARDS,SAID SPRING AND SAID PANEL BEING VERTICALLY RESTRAINED BY SAIDRELATIVELY FIXEDLY SPACED TOP CHANNEL, SAID TOP CHANNEL INCLUDING ANUPPERMOST HORIZONTAL TOP FACE ADJACENT SAID CEILING SIDES EXTENDINGDOWNWARDLY FROM THE LATERAL EDGES OF SAID TOP FACE, AND INWARDLYDIRECTED LIPS AT THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID SIDES, SAID TOP CHANNELSHAVING DISPOSED THEREIN AT SPACED POSITIONS SELF-RETAINED SPACING CLIPS,SAID SPACING CLIPS BEING GENERALLY M-SHAPED, INCLUDING TWO OPPOSITELYOUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED ARMS FOR CENTERING SAID CLIP IN SAIDTOP CHANNEL, AND A CENTRAL LOWER FACE FOR ABUTTING THE PANEL TOP EDGEAND HOLDING SAID PANEL SPACED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP FACE.